Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Imaging Windows 7, An Introduction

Like many K12 school districts, we're beginning to deploy Windows 7 clients out in our schools. We completely skipped over Vista and stuck with the reliable old stand-by, Windows XP, but as we purchase new machines, it makes sense to deploy Windows 7. In our limited testing, and my own extensive personal use, Windows 7 has turned out to be an excellent operating system and offers some performance and functionality improvements that will benefit teachers and students.

We upgraded all our domain controllers to Server 2008 R2 in preparation for deploying new Windows 7 machines and even worked out the daunting 32-bit and 64-bit printer driver issues by using the terrific HP Universal Print Driver.

Now, it's time to learn how to create images for our new Windows 7 (both 32-bit and 64-bit) machines and figure out the best method to deploy them quickly and easily. We have been using Altiris Deployment Solution (6.9) to image and deploy our XP machines and we've gotten pretty good using all the tricks over the years to automate the process as much as possible, thanks to Sysprep and lots and lots of trial and error. However, there are changes in Windows 7, Sysprep, and even Altiris (version 7.1) that contribute to make this seem like a gargantuan mountain to climb.

I've done my fair share of searching for documentation online, reading tutorial after tutorial, and just plain trial and error of installing (and re-installing) Windows 7 in an attempt to find the process that works best. I find it incredibly frustrating that all the required information can't be found in one location, presented in an easy to follow (and understand) format. I started thinking that documenting our own process, discoveries, and struggles may prove to be helpful to others, so this is the first post in a series doing just that. I hope that you find it helpful and, if you have found better methods, tricks or shortcuts, please share them in the comments.

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co-gi-ta-tion

concerted thought or reflection; meditation; contemplation

the faculty of thinking

About the "Head Geek"

My name is Paul Barrette and I am a professional K12 "head geek" working in RI and, formerly, in MA. As a former teacher, I strive to balance technical needs and challenges with educational priorities and goals. I am a current member of the RI Society of Technology Educators Executive Committee and Past-President of RISTE. I am also the chairperson of the Technology sub-committee of the RI Northwest Schools Consortium.

I am fortunate to have an amazing family and my most important roles are as husband, father, son and brother.

Disclaimer

This blog does not represent the thoughts, intentions, plans, policies or strategies of my employer or any organizations I belong to. It is solely my opinion.

Feel free to challenge me, disagree with me, or tell me I’m completely nuts in the comments section of each blog entry, but I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason whatsoever (abusive, profane, rude, spam etc.) – so keep it polite and on point, please.